Cargo hatch tent



1958 F. J. MARINO 2,849,010

CARGO HATCH TENT Filed Dec. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

" FRANK J. MARINO ATTORNEY United States Patent M This invention relates to tents for excluding rain and snow from open cargo hatches of vessels during the :loading and unloading of cargo therefrom.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved cargo hatch tent of a construction which permits the lifting and movement of sling loads to a maximum height Within the tent without danger of damaging the tent walls due to engagement of the sling load with such tent walls.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tent of the character described, which facilitates loading and unloading operations by reducing interference with the movement of sling loads to a minimum.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cargo hatch tent including a flat crown frame member and fabric tent structure detachably attached to the frame member. 7

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an improved cargo hatch tent having diverging side walls interconnected by a flat crown whereby to provide a substantial transverse dimension at the top of the tent to better accommodate sling loads moving into or out of the tent.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cargo hatch tent embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a crown frame forming part of the tent;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the door panel portion of the tent.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, designates a deck of a vessel provided with the usual cargo hatch 11 for passing cargo into or out of the hold of the vessel. A mast 12 provided with the usual booms 13, 14, is adapted to position over hatch 11, a tent embodying the invention and generally indicated at 15. Such tent is positioned over hatch 11 in the event of rain or snow during loading or unloading operations, serving to protect the hold against adverse weather conditions.

The tent 15 is made of heavy canvas or other suitable fabric and comprises a pair of trapezoid shaped side panels or walls 16, 17 interconnected at their rear edges by a trapezoid shaped back panel 18. Extending from the forward edges 19, 20 of side panels 16, 17 respectively, are triangular shaped door panels 21, 22. Each of the door panels 21, 22 includes a rectangular shaped flap 23 extending from the top edges 24 of said panels.

The tent 15 includes a crown frame generally indicated at 25. Such frame 25 is made of rigid metal bar stock in rectangular form, including side members 26, 26a interconnected by a back member 27, by welding or the like. A pair of front members 28, 28a extend from side members 26, 2611 respectively, in aligned rela- Patented Aug. 26, 1958 tion and with their ends in opposed, spaced relation. A flat suspending plate 29 with a suspending ring 30 mounted thereon, is located interiorly of'members 26, 26a; 27; 28, 28a and is connected thereto by struts 31. A cross member 32 extending between front struts 31, serves to interconnect the ends of a pair of parallel bars 33 which extend forwardly to the ends of front members 28, 28a respectively and secured thereto, by welding or the like to provide a throat.

A concave type roller 34 is rotatably mounted between bars 33 on suitable bushing means, together with a lift bar 35, also extending between said bars 33. The frame 25 further includes attachment bars 36 fixed to bars 33 inwardly thereof and in slightly spaced relation thereto.

' The tent 15 is detachably mounted on frame 25 by suitably lashing the top edges of panels 16, 17 and 18 to frame members 26, 26a and 27. The rear end edges of d-oorflaps 23 are similarly lashed to frame members 28, 28a of frame 25. The door flaps 23 are maintained in a horizontal position, when tent 15 is properly positioned over hatch 11, by angle reinforcing members 37 suitably secured to forward edge portions of flaps 23 and door panels 21, 22. The edges of the panels 16,

17, 18, 21, 22 and flaps 23 may be corded as at C for reinforcement, in a manner known in the art. Anchor cords 38 extending from the bottom edges of panels 16, 17 and 18, at spaced intervals, provides means for attaching the tent 15 to cleats or the like 39 on deck 10.

A cover 40 of canvas or the like, is detachably attached over frame 25, said cover being of generally rectangular shape and overlapping at its peripheral edges, the top edges of tent panels 16, 17, 18 and flaps 23. Cover 40 is suitably lashed in place on said frame 25, with a slotted portion of said cover being attachedat edge portions thereof, to attachment bars 36. An opening 41 on a central portion of cover 40 passes ring 30 therethrough.

When tent 15 is to be positioned over hatch 11, said tent is hoisted into position by boom tackle, not shown, which engages lift bar 35 on frame 25. A rope 42 depending from boom 14 engages ring 30 to suspend the tent in proper position. A rope 43 extending from boom 13 is provided with a ring 44 through which slidably passes a cord 45 having rings 46 secured to the ends thereof. A cord 47 passes freely through each of rings 46, the ends of cords 47 being secured to the opposite ends of forward edge of door flaps 23, said flap edges being reinforced by the horizontally disposed arms of angle members 37. With rope 43 in a taut condition, tent 15 is in proper position, door flaps 23 being horizontally disposed throughout the length thereof.

It will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 1, that the opposed edges 48 of flaps 23 are in spaced relation to provide a longitudinally extending slot 49 which communicates at the rear thereof with the space between frame bars 33. Thus, the suspending rope 50 of a sling load L may pass therethrough as said load is hoisted from or lowered into hatch 11. It is understood that rope 50 is manipulated in a known manner, by means not shown to effect the desired vertical and horizontal movements of load L, cords 45 being of a length sufficient to allow adequate forward movement of load L.

Inasmuch as tent 15 has a substantially fiat crown structure, the side walls 16, 17, as well as end wall 18, are well spaced from each other at the top of the tent, thus allowing loads L to move in proximity to the top of the tent without danger of engaging and tearing said tent walls. With a greater utility of the upper portions of the tent, manipulation of the ropes controlling the various movements of sling load L in its passage to and from hatch 11, is substantially simplified.

'The tent structure may be easily and quickly detached from crown frame member 25 to permit repair or replacement of the canvas structure or portions thereof. Also, while the tent structure is being repaired, a replacement tent may be associated with frame 25.

The opposed edges of door flaps 23 are reinforced by cords 5 1 to prevent undue chafing arising from the movements of rope 50 in slot- 49. The rearward movement of rope 50 is limited by roller 34.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention herein set forth without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter shown herein shall be deemed illustrative and not by way of limitation except as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having .thus disclosed my invention,=I claim as.-new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

.1. A tent for suspension over a cargo hatch in a vessel deck, comprising a top frame of rectangular form in plan and including a pair of parallel opposite side bars, arear bar normal to-said side bars, and a pair of frontbars parallel with said rear bar and having the adjacentends thereof in spaced relation, and a pair of parallel bars extending inwardly from said adjacent ends of said front bars toward the center of the frame, a pair of trapezoidal shaped flexible side panels having their upper edges secured to said side bars, a trapezoidal shaped flexible rear panel having its upper edge secured to said rear bar, a pair of triangular shaped flexible front panels each having at itstupper edge an elongated flap substantially in the plane of said bars and having one end thereof secured to one of said. front bars, said flaps having their adjacent edges in spaced relation providing a slot extending between the bars of said inwardly extending pair thereof, for passage of a load supporting rope from the exterior'of the tent to a position over said hatch, means securing the adjacent edges of said panels together, and'means'for securing the bottom edges of the opposite side and rear 7 panels to the vessel deck.

2. A tent according to claim 1, wherein said frame is of generally truncated pyramidal form in side elevation and which frame further comprises a plurality of bar struts having the corresponding ends thereof secured to said side, rear and front bars, said struts extending upwardly and inwardly from saidbars and having their upper ends connected by a rectangular plate provided with a suspension rope-engaging ring.

3. A tent according to claim 2, wherein said frame further comprises a cross bar disposed normal to the inner ends of said pair of bars and secured thereto, a.roller disposed between the bars of said pair thereof for limiting the inward movement of a cargo transporting rope through said slot, and a tent lift bar between said cross bar and said roller.

4. A top frame for use in a tent for suspension over a cargo hatch in a vessel deck, said frame being of rectangularzform in plan'and including a pair of opposite side bars, a rear bar normalto said side bars, and a pair of front bars parallel with said rear bar and having the adjacent ends thereof in spaced relation, a pair of parallel bars extending inwardly from said adjacent ends of said front bars toward the center of the frame, a plurality of bar struts having the corresponding ends thereof secured to said side, rear and front bars, said struts extending inwardly toward the center of. the frame, plate means connecting the'inner ends of said struts, and rope engaging suspension means on said plate means.

References Cited invthe file of this patent UNITED:STATES PATENTS 

